South Africa’s series against Ireland is the only series of the big three that is still alive and this third Test will take the result down to the wire.

The Springboks came from behind late last week and snatched victory from Ireland which leveled the series. There was however a lot more to that second half surge.

Much of the South African public might be thinking that the Boks finally got accustomed to playing together but it was a lot more to do with the replacements bench and the altitude as the match was played in Johannesburg.

When Ireland won the first Test coach Joe Schmidt immediately started targeting the Test in Port Elizabeth this week. Someone who is as shrewd a Schmidt will not have missed that England were beaten at altitude in 2012 but then drew in PE a week later.

Schmidt rested some of his stars for the second Test but has named a strong side for this week. CJ Stander is one of six changes for this week.

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has made two changes and started two of the stars that helped South Africa surge to victory last week. Coetzee has named Warren Whiteley (No 8) and Ruan Combrinck (wing) after they impressed last week when they came off the replacements bench.

South Africa still looked a long way off their best last week and this week they won’t have altitude to help them in the final quarter.